Clayton n



(No Model.)

' 0. N. DAVIS.

SHIRT. No. 277,558. Patented May 15,1883.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CLAYTON N. DAVIS, OF FORT EDWARD, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO RUSSELL (J. DAVIS AND H. DAVIS NORTHUP, OF SAMEPLAOE.

SHIRT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 277,553, dated May 15, 1883.

Application filed December 9, 1882. (No model.)

yokepa'rt way only along the top of the reenforcing ply, the loose side of the ply lapping over the opening,so as to conceal the same, and adapted to be secured at the upper end of the loose side to the yoke by a button or in any suitable manner, the lower end of the ply being stitched through the body of the shirt and an. inner re-enforcing ply.

Figure I is a view of the back of the shirt. Fig. Il is a plan view of the inner small staying-ply.

Similar-letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

A represents the outer re enforcing ply, which laps over the back slit or opening (represented by the broken line F) and conceals the same.

The dotted lines represent rows of stitching.

The ply A is shown stitched to the body of the shirt along the left vertically-inclined side, and part way along its upper side to the lower side of the yoke B. The remaining portion of the ply from the yoke to D is left loose; also the right-hand side, as shown, down to the stitching G.

I have shown three buttons, by which the respective parts of the shirt are secured in position. The upper button merely secures the collar-band. The one just below, E, passes through the two ends of the yoke on their lower side, and button Dsecures the loose side of the ply A to the yoke. It is manifest, therefore, that by releasing the parts from the three buttons the back of the shirt may be opened down to the stitching G.

ThepieceH(shown in Fig. II) is placed on the inner side of the body'of the shirt, just below the foot of the back slit or opening,'and the three parts-viz., outer ply, body of the shirt, and inner pl yall stitched together around the edges of the inner ply, as shown by the dotted lines, which arrangement affords a strong and durable stay for the opening.

I am aware that shirts have been made with a re-enforcing overlapping shield-shaped ply; but the shield-shaped ply was wider at its lower end than at its upper, and was stitched to the yoke along the entire length of its upper side. It is not desirable to have the overlapping piece or ply wider at its lower end, for the reason that it does not cover that portion of the body requiring additional protection,while the upper part of the piece or ply covers the lungs and other parts needing additional protection. By making the yoke in the usual form, without extending the same equally with the overlappingply, a considerable saving is effected in time and material necessaryin manu- 7o factoring the shirts. It has been the custom, from time immemorial, to partially cover the opening by an overlapping facing which projected no farther than the yoke; but such facing was neverconstructed wider at the top 7 than at the bottom, but frequently the reverse. It is preferableto have the width of the upper end of ply A about double the width of the part which overlaps the opening, which gives the ply a symmetrical appearance.

I do not claim, broadly, an overlapping ply.

The overlapping ply A may be composed of one or any desired number of thicknesses of cloth or fabric, and may be made of any suitable material. 8

The ply A may also be stitched to the body ofthe shirt along one side of the opening, as shown by the dotted line a b.

The ply A may be of any desired shape, pro vided it is wider at its upper end and projects go beyond the yoke, as described.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The combination, with a shirt having a back opening, of a re-enforoing ply or piece fastened to the shirt on the other side. of the wider at its upper portion or end, stitched to opening by a button or its equivalent, as dethe body of the shirt at its lower end along scribed.

one side, and to the neck-yoke part Way only, CLAYTON N. DAVIS. the loose side of the ply lapping over the back Witnesses: opening, so as to completely conceal the same, CHARLES H. IRVING, and the upper end of the loose side of the ply ALBERT LAOKMANN. 

